Cricket | Sunfoil Series

Match evenly poised in Potch

The Chevrolet Knights reached 272 for eight at the close of play on day two of their Sunfoil Series match at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Friday, still 76 runs behind the 348 posted by the bizhub Highveld Lions.

Quinton de Kock (85), Neil McKenzie (73) and Zander de Bruyn (63) all scored half centuries on the first day, while Thami Tsolekile scored 46 on the second morning before the Lions were bowled out for 348.

With the first delivery of the Knights' innings, Garnett Kruger found the edge of Michael Erlank’s bat, and Tsolekile made no mistake with the catch.

Two overs later, the same combination was at it again, this time claiming the wicket of Rudi Second for three. The Knights found themselves in massive trouble at two for three.

Rilee Rossouw and Ryan Bailey kept calm under pressure in their attempt to build a partnership. They saw off a fantastic opening spell from Kruger, which saw him concede only six runs from his six overs, claiming the wickets of both openers. The pair went into the lunch break on 22 and 16 respectively.

The post-lunch session belonged to Rossouw and Bailey. The pair brought up their 50 partnership in 110 deliveries and their 100 partnership in 166.

With Rossouw three runs short of his century, he hit a Brett Pelser delivery to Stephen Cook at mid-on. He faced 120 balls in his innings of 97.

Ryan McLaren joined Bailey at the crease, and the pair survived to the tea break - Bailey on 70 and McLaren yet to score.

After tea, Kruger bowled Bailey for 78 and soon after that, he had two more wickets.

Firstly Werner Coetsee was caught and bowled for two, then Kruger claimed his fifth wicket when he bowled Johan van der Wath for one.

Imran Tahir joined the action when he had Shadley van Schalkwyk (9) caught by De Kock. The Knights were 215 for 8, still 133 runs behind the Lions, when Quinton Friend joined McLaren.

Friend did what was required by holding up his end as McLaren scored runs at the other end. The pair took the total past 250 in the 80th over and brought up their 50 partnership in the 84th over.

The same over saw McLaren go past 50, from 81 deliveries.

When bad light stopped play in the 86th over, McLaren was on 52 and Friend had 14 from 69 deliveries.